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Jeremy Steinkoler

Jeremy has been playing drums professionally for over 25 years. He performs regularly with a wide array of musical projects, including his award-winning saxes-and-drums funk trio Mo’Fone, pop-jazz group Jenna & the Charmers, the Bait & Switch Blues Band, Jennifer Jolly & Friends, the Erika Oba Trio, Jean Fineberg's JAZZphoria, his own J. Steinkoler Quartet, and various other jazz players and singer/songwriters. His groovy, feel-based approach to the drums has earned him prodigious credits as a sideman, including performances and recordings with members of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dave Ellis, Kirk Joseph, Clarence Bucaro, Jenna Mammina, Mamadou Sidibe, Chelle & Friends, Guru Garage, Valerie Orth, Rachel Efron, Flyover States, the Kevin Beadles Band, Featprints, Hot Links, Phatlip, the Jolly Gibsons, Sam Rudin, and many other top musicians around the Bay Area. He leads and composes for Mo’Fone, which has been featured repeatedly at the Monterey, San Francisco and Sonoma Jazz Festivals, and charted to #3 with their most recent album, ‘Fonology, on the Roots Music Charts. In addition to his busy career as a performer, Jeremy has been teaching private drum lessons since 1991, and has become one of the most respected drum educators in the Bay Area. Along with Steve Gibson, He is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of BandWorks, a school of rock program for musicians of all ages with multiple locations, serving over 1,200 students each year. He is the Founder and Director of the East Bay Drum School, and has been on the faculty of Cazadero Performing Arts Family Camp for the past 21 years, where he was the Co-Director from 1999-2001. He has taught workshops and master classes in Dublin, Ireland; Ann Arbor, MI; and in Northern California for the past 25 years. An avid bodhrán player and instructor, Jeremy co-produced the first annual Bay Area Frame Drum Festival in 2020, along with fellow percussionist Ami Molinelli. Jeremy is also a co-founder of the Drummers Education Connection (D.E.C.), an online education network for drummers and instructors, along with fellow drummer/educators Bart Robley, Rick Stojak and Chip Ritter. Jeremy is the author of Finding the Groove (Hudson Music), a critically acclaimed collection of essays on drumming, performing and teaching, and has published educational articles on vicfirth.com.

Endorsements Jeremy proudly endorses: Brooks Drums Aquarian Drumheads Protection Racket Cases Prologix Practice Pads Vic Firth Drum Sticks Snareweight Dampeners

Awards

Voted Best Jazz Group, East Bay Express Readers' Poll 2008 Nominated for Best Funk Band, SF Weekly Music Awards 2008 Nominated for Just Plain Folks Award, best jazz song 2007

Gear

Endorsements: Vic Firth Drumsticks, Aquarian Drumheads, Protection Racket Cases Gear: Brooks Drums, Aquarian Drumheads, Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth drumsticks, Protection Racket Cases, Snareweight Dampeners, Prologix Practice Pads


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Album Review

Mo'Fone: Sling Shot

Read "Sling Shot" reviewed by Ian Patterson


It must be challenging for Mo'Fone to secure gigs and, no doubt, many a venue refused them once the trio explained its lineup as two saxophones and drums. It's a setup sure to suggest an avant-garde trip or vaudeville novelty outing but the music on Sling Shot is, in fact, both tremendously listenable and serious.

While Jim Peterson's baritone sax anchors the trio, and he lets rip on occasion, most of the soloing is left to alto saxophonist/clarinetist Larry De ...

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"A very swinging drummer who's mastered the art of coordinated independence." (East Bay Express)

"Time and again you find your ears drawn to the crisp rhythmic drive he imparts to every groove, from funk and New Orleans R & B to straight-ahead jazz, and to the deft accents he tics out on cymbals and skins." (SF Bay Guardian)

"Steinkoler's orchestral approach to the trap set is thrilling. He's a whirlwind of activity, filling up empty spaces without sounding busy." (Contra Costa Times)

"A minimal but mighty romp!" (East bay Express)

"If Mo'Fone doesn't blow your socks off, you're not paying attention." (allaboutjazz.com)

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Primary Instrument

Drums

Location

Oakland

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Jeremy is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of BandWorks, a school of rock 'n' roll program for kids and adults with multiple locations around the SF Bay Area. BandWorks has served thousands of musicians since its inception in 1993 and has won several awards for its dedication to the musical community. Additionally, Jeremy is the Founder and Director of the East Bay Drum School, offering high- quality lessons with a team of experienced and dedicated private drum instructors. He is also a co-founder of the Drummers Education Connection (www.drummersedcon.com). Jeremy is the author of Finding the Groove (Hudson Music), a critically acclaimed collection of essays on drumming, teaching and performing. He maintains a busy private teaching practice at his studios in Oakland and Albany, CA. His wisdom, experience, enthusiasm, and patience have earned him a reputation as one of the top drum instructors in the Bay Area. $100/hour, $50/half-hour, Mon-Fri.

Clinic/Workshop Information

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Surf's Up

Evander Music
2017

buy

'Fonology

Evander Music
2014

buy

Sling Shot

Evander Music
2009

buy

Wiggle

From: Sling Shot
By Jeremy Steinkoler

Videos

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